ABSTRACT
. With the victory of Pompey over Jerusalem in 63 B. c., the Roman period of Jewish history began; its close may be and has been variously marked. If the period be made to include all the years in which the Roman emperors directed affairs in Palestine, and subjected the Jews to the imperial will, its limit is not reached even with the end of the second century of our era. If the limit be sought in an event which seriously affected the Jews in Palestine, there is still opportunity for difference of opinion, since the war of 70 A. d. and the more terrible rebellion against Hadrian in 135 A. d. were both critical and fateful. It was in the year 70 A. d., however, that the great rallying centre of the nation, the temple, was destroyed, and its demolition followed by a gradual withdrawal of the priesthood from public life. At the same time the Sanhedrin disappeared, and with it the Sadducean party. The nation as a nation then lost its highest religious and political privileges. Henceforth it was to have no vestige of political oneness, even under foreign domination. Its unifying power was the law alone. Hopes for the future revived, but the Jewish nation was from the year 70 A. d. a thing of the past. There is sufficient reason, therefore, for taking this date as a proper limit. For over one hundred and thirty years Judea was brought into direct touch with the Roman power, and, despite the relatively large liberty given to her, worked out slowly but surely her own ruin. The period is of the deepest interest, not only by reason of the changes which took place in the Roman world itself, and in consequence also in Palestine, but also because in this period Jesus lived and accomplished his mission and Christianity was established.
